TOWARDS CREDIBLE, FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION:

Good governance based on accountability and transparency has eluded Nigeria since independence due to the absence or lack of a truly representative system of government. This is so because a true government which is a result of a true election that is credible, free and fair has been a mirage in Nigeria. Most of our efforts at conducting a credible election have been a failure due to so many reasons.

Beginning from the first experiment at representative government for Nigeria in 1923 to the present day as can be seen in what transpired in Anambra State on November 17^th 2013, elections in Nigeria have been marred by one irregularity or the other. There have been discrepancies in all, except the 1993 elections, no one has been adjudged by local and international observers as free and fair. This much was even acknowledged by the former president of Nigeria Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who admitted before the secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon, that the process through which he became president was faulty.

The intent of this discourse therefore, is to identify those factors that are responsible for our failure to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria and proffer solutions towards attaining a credible election based on international standards.

1.  Independence

Towards a credible poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission should not be independent just in name and on paper only. Presently as it stands, the President of the Federal republic appoints the chairman of the commission. It is a known fact that he, who pays the piper, dictates the tune. To avoid meddlesomeness therefore and guarantee absolute independence to the commission, there should be a body with the powers to appoint the chairman and directors of INEC and remove that burden from the executives. We can be assured after this that the commission will discharge their duties without fear or favour.

2.  Cap on Campaign Cost and Finance

The need to put a cap on the cost of running campaigns is long overdue. It is a known fact that Nigerian elections are capital intensive. Politicians spend lots in their campaigns because of too much cash at their disposal. This affects the conduct of elections as voters are wooed with monetary gifts, thugs are employed, security men are compromised and they in turn threaten, cajole and intimidate voters, electoral officers are bribed. All these happen because they have too much cash to throw around. In a situation where there is a cap on campaign financing, the politicians may not have much after they must have paid for jingles and other costs. Cap on campaign finance works in the United States and can work in Nigeria as well. This will help in reducing malpractices and electoral fraud.

3.  Corruption

Most of our problems as a nation are traceable to corruption. Until this hydra headed problem is removed from our body politic, free fair and credible elections in Nigeria may remain a mirage. How possibly can we have an election that is free and fair when the people charged with the conduct of the election take bribes and compromise their jobs? This happened recently in Idemili North in Anambra State on November 17^th, when the INEC official who is supposed to deliver electoral materials to the area was compromised and did not bring the materials until late in the afternoon after elections have taken place in other areas of the state. To this end therefore, I advocate that there should be established, an electoral offenses tribunal to try electoral offenses with stiff penalties for defaulters who are taking the collective will of the people into play.

4.  Poverty

The Nigerian political elite have failed the people woefully in this regard. What with the attendant income that has accrued to the nation through oil since independence.

And since, people are hungry and poor; they can always be wooed with tokens during elections. A hungry man can always be influenced to vote against his conscience with money. A recent case of what poverty can do to a people is the recent report by Aljazeera international that many Greeks who are being affected by economic crisis now inject themselves with HIV so as to qualify for the government grant of $950 they give to people who are HIV positive. There is also a recent report by the BBC world news that sex workers in Kenya opt to use anti HIV drugs instead of condoms so as to collect higher pays. Such is what poverty can do. Now, come closer home, how wouldn’t a poor man in Nigeria collect money from a politician to vote against his will? A credible election in Nigeria is a long term goal and is not unachievable. Combating poverty will help also in getting there.

5.  Apathy and Illiteracy

There is a general apathy amongst Nigerians these in the partaking in the electoral process. This is due to the fact that many elections in the past have been hijacked by the politicians and have not reflected the true intentions of the voters. Many more therefore do not see the point in participating in elections in which their votes will not count. The government therefore should embark on a massive education and reorientation of the electorates. They should create an opportunity for an interactive session in mass media involving the citizenry and the entire populace regarding elections and electoral processes. This should not only be done during elections but should be a continuous activity both during elections and non election times. The National Orientation Agency should be involved in this and in educating Nigerians on the need to be a part of the system. Politics should not be left to politicians alone as their actions affect even non politicians and politicians alike.

6.  Greed and Avaricious Quest for Power

Politics in Nigeria has now become a do or die affair. Nigerian politicians are ready to do anything; commit any crime, pay whatever price, kill any opposition in order maintain hold on power.

This continues to happen because offenders in the past have always found a way of escaping punishment. The establishment of an electoral crimes tribunal as has been suggested before will help in dealing with this issue. Judges of impeccable character should be appointed to make sure that offenders are fished and brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

7.Process and Procedures of Election

Every conceivable mode of conducting elections in Nigeria has been tried even with the latest technology. Biometrics data compilation as well has been tried. Money has been budgeted to get things done right. The Electoral Act has also covered a wide range of issues to get things done right as well. So the answer does not lie in the process nor the procedure but in our sincerity in getting things done right. The answer lies in the above issues enumerated.

CONCLUSION:

To counter issues raised in numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 above, there should be a proper rebranding, reformation and reorganization of the police force to equip and enable them to do their jobs no matter whose ox is gored, without fear or favour, let or hindrance and to discharge their duties to friends and foes alike in the manner prescribed by the law.

Our educational institutions should also be strengthened and supported so that our people will know their rights, duties and obligations. Educated populace who are gainfully employed will not involve in thuggery and electoral malpractices. Only these will lead to a true reformation of the people.

Ability to organize a credible, free and fair election in Nigeria may not be achievable in a day, a month, a year or a decade. But it can be achieved. It is a process that needs our collective effort. We can do it if we want. Like Cassius told Brutus in JULIUS CEASER “the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, for we are underlings”. It is for us to do it. And YES WE CAN.

Finally, to counter issue number 1, the commission should be manned by retired civil servants of unquestionable character and civil society organizations. Training of officials both permanent and ad hoc should be well planned. The era of quick fix arrangements should be discarded as regards to training. It is not only when elections are at hand that the trainings should be organized. It is should be a process.

We should not be advocating for more laws in Nigeria. There are relevant and competent laws already to deal with every conceivable number of issues in the country. The Electoral Act of 2010 as amended has covered every part of the problem. We have the laws in place. What we do not have seems to be lacking in Nigeria is the sincerity of purpose. We will get there only if we want and when we want.

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